202. Own Your Brand: How to Communicate with Presence and Impact

The power of creating the reputation you want to have.

Whether you know it or not, you have a brand. What that brand is, says Lorraine Lee, doesn’t happen by accident. “You can either form and create it, or you can let people define it for you.”

A teacher, content creator, speaker, and author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence and Catapult Your Career, Lee helps people improve their communication presence and define their personal and professional brands. “Your brand is essentially your reputation,” she says. And while she acknowledges that “it can feel intimidating” to actively steer how we’re perceived, her EPIC framework helps navigate this challenge by examining our Experiences, Personality, Identity, and Community.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lee and host Matt Abrahams explore strategies for showing up memorably in both virtual and in-person settings. From crafting "unique and powerful introductions" to honing your online presence, Lee’s practical advice shows how to communicate your brand in today's digital workplace.

Episode Reference Links:

• Lorraine K. Lee
• Lorraine’s Book:  Unforgettable Presence 
• Ep.6 Quick Thinks: Communicating and Leading Virtually
• Ep.7 Quick Thinks: Use This Framework to Speak up in Virtual Meetings  
• Ep.31 Quick Thinks: How to Shine Online and Excel at Virtual Communication 

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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:21) - Tips for Virtual Presence
• (03:54) - Public Speaking Insights
• (06:39) - The Importance of Mentors & Sponsors
• (07:54) - Personal Branding on Social Media
• (10:29) - EPIC Career Brand Framework
• (12:54) - Unique & Powerful Introductions
• (15:09) - Conversational Threading
• (16:18) - Avoiding Resting Business Face
• (19:24) - The Final Three Question
• (23:25) - Conclusion

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